A Fine Fast Fury Finishes First

Sea Furys finished first and second in the Unlimited Class Gold Race Sunday afternoon at the just concluded 2006 Reno Air Races in Nevada. Mike Brown, flying his "September Fury" won with a sizzling 481.669 mph beating Mike Jackson in his "Dreadnought" speeding at 453.559 mph.

Four other modified British built Sea Furys were also in the race.

The two P-51 Mustangs, "Strega" and "Cloud Dancer" both reported maydays, but landed safely and did not finish.

As ANN reported last week, with several previous favorites not racing, a different group of contenders were seeking the top spots.

In the Sport Gold Class category, leader Rod Von Grote cut a pylon with his Lancair Legacy and lost to Jon Sharp in his Nemesis NXT who won with an official speed of 360.389.

The T-6 class saw Nick Macy in his "Six Cat" win the Gold Race at 235.609 mph among the Harvards, SNJs, and Texans.

In the Biplane Gold Class, Tim Aberle dominated, claiming his fourth personal win, and his Mong Sport "Phantom"'s third.

The Formula One Race saw Gary Hubler's "Mariah" winning the gold at 257.047 mph using the 100 hp engine.

Jets got off to an exciting start when the pace plane lost its canopy, but John Penney went on to finish first with an official speed of 470.195 mph in his L-39 "Pip Squeak".  Mathematicians will note this is slower than the winning piston-powered Sea Fury.

Reno reports that while some airplanes may have broken their engines, the races were accident free.

FMI: www.airrace.org